The Sun. — London, England, 1864-12-23 00:00:00

IFEBOAT SERVICES, —During the storms j.j of the past year the boats of the National Lifeboat In. stitution have saved 426 persons from different wrecks on our. coasts, The Institution also expended £14,770 in the sam e period on lifeboat establishments, in addition to grant ing £1,497 as rewards for saving 692 shipwrecked persons by its li.teboats, and other means. Th. e Committee of the Institution earnestly A ?PEAL to the p üblic for ASSISTANCE to enable them to meet the continmed heavy demands on the Institution's 138 lifeboat establishments. Contributions are received by Messrs. Willis and Co.. Berries and Co., Coutts and Co., and by all the London and countrybankers ; and by the Secretary Richard Lewis, Esq., st the Institution, 14, John-street, Adelphi. CRYSTAL PALACE. -TO MORROW. CHRISTMAS EVE. See To-morrow Morning' , 4 Papers for lull details of Gene • rat TOM 'THUMB'S Last RECEP.CION, To-morrow, and Juvenile Entertainment. Unusually combined attractions. TIEATRE-ROVAL DRURY-LANE. Managers. Messrs. E. FaleL - ner and F. B. Chatterton. on BOXING-NIGHT, and during the week, A YOUNG 1.1 D FROM THE COUNTRY. Ai ter which, the Grand Christmas Pa'. tomirne, HOP O'3lY THUMB AND HIS ELEVEN BROTHERS; or, Harlequin and the Ogre of the Seven-League Boots : Messrs. G. Bel snore, Tom .slatthews, G. Weston, Master Percy Roselle, &c. Misses Lydia Thompson. R. Leclercq, &c. ; Messrs. Boleno, C. Lauri, W. A. Barnes, T. Morris, Corma:k, Savii;e ; Mdme. Boleno, the Misses Gunnis, and Signor Tescano. wir 1 EIEATRE ROYAL, DRURY- LANE.- A Special Morning Perform ances.—ln answer to numer owl applications from parties residing in the environs, and in order to allow the country visitors to London during tue holiday week an opportunity of witnessing the grand Drury lane annual Christmas Pantomime, entitled HOP 0' MY THUMB AND HIS ELEVEN BROTHERS; or, Harlequin and the Ogre of the Seven-league Boots, Messrs. Falconer and Chatterton have decided on giving FIVE MORNING PERFORMANCES, on TUESDAY, Dec. 27, Wednesday, 28, Thursday, 29, Friday, 30, and Saturday, 31, and on the morning of every Wednesday and atur lay during the holiday season. Children and schools at reduced prices to the following parts of the theatre : First circle, dress circle, and for morning performances only. T HEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET.- Lessee, Mr. Buckstone. THIS EVENING, THE SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL. Messrs. Buckstone, Chippendale, Howe, Farren, Rogers, Gordon. Clark, Braid, Coe, &c.; Mesdames Angel, Snowdon, Fitzwilliam, Lindley, &c. After which, NO SONG NO SUPPER. Messrs. Compton, Farren, .Arthur Clark, Weathersby, &c. ; Mesdames Keeley, Villiers, Moore, Lovell, &c. And OUR MAKY ANNE. To commence at 7. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE.- Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. Geo. Vining. THIS EVENING, BORN TO GOOD LUCK. Caddy O'Rafferty, Mr. Dominick Murray. After which, THE STREETS OF LONDON. Messrs. Vining, J. W. Ray, D. Fisher, D. Murray, J. Nelson, H. Forrester. H. Mellon ; Mrs. Henry Marston, Miss Emma jiarnett, and Miss Fanny Gwynne. ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE. Mr, FECHTER will perform his univeraally allowed great impersonation of RUY BLAS EVERY EVENING until further notice. On BOXING NIGHT, Monday, Dec. 26, to commence with MY WIFE'S OUT. Messrs. Widdicomb, Charles; Miss B. Percy and Miss E. Lavenu. Alter which, at 8 o'clock, RUY BLAS. Ruy Blas, Mr. Fechter. Messrs. Ryder, Fitzpatrick, F. Charles, M'intyre, Garden. Raymond, Uollett, C ifford, Moreland; Misses Car lotta Le3lercq, B. Percy, and Mrs. Winstanley. To conclude with a Farcical Oriental Extravaganza, en titled BAREFACED IMPOSTORS. Schahabaham (a pasha of three tails, Mr. Raymond; 3lustapha, his vizier, Mr. Garden ; Bill Stumps and Jack Hocus, quondam proprietors of the ori., inal united happy family, Messrs. Moreland and "Viddicomb ; Ali, chief guardian of the ladies of the Harem, Mr. Collett ; Osman Khan, chief executioner, Mr. Bunch ; Achmet Aga, an officer of the Sultan, Mr. Kelly ; Mirz Hajji Baba, chief keeper of the monkeys, Mr. Regan; Ayesha, formerly Jemima Stumps, but no N first favourite of the pasha, Miss Lavenu; Fatima, second favourite of the pasha, Miss B. Percy ; Shekerleb, third favourite of the pasha, Miss Travers; Beda, fourth favourite of the pasha, Miss Watson ; Zenobia, formerly banou of the harem, chief wife of the pasha, but now discarded for Ayesha, Miss Hatch. Various choice specimens of zoology, guards, slaves, and attendants, by the numerous and talentel Smith family. Divertissement ties Odalisques. Doors open at Half -past Six. The Box-office open daily from Eleven till Five. NEW THEATRE-RO VAL, ADELPIII. Solo Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. Webster. THIS EVENING, THE WORKMEN OF PARIS. Mr. Benjamin Webster; Messrs. Billin;_ton, R. Phillips, Stuart, J. Clarke, Stephenson, Eburne, C. J. Smith ; Mrs. Stirling, Miss Woolgar (Mrs. A. Mellon), Miss H. ,timms. Mrs. Biliington, Mrs. H. Lewis, and Miss A. Seamen. To conclude with DOING BAN TING. Mr. J. Clarke, Mr. Stephenson; Mrs. Lewis and Miss A. ,seaman. Commence at 7. MI SS B A TEM A N.-NEW THE VI'R ROYAL ADELPFIL— Mr. Webster begs to announce That the great Tragedienne, Miss BAT ii.3IAN, having per formed with unparalleled success the character of "Leah" for a period of nine consecutive mouths during the last season at this Theatre, and since won the 'plaudits of thousands in Liverpool, Birmingham, Dublin, Manchester, and ulasgow, she will RE-APPEAR at this Establishment JANUARY 2d, 1865, in her original character of the Jewish Maiden for a limited number of nights, previously to her appearing in other illustrations of the Cla sic Drama, which are in prepa ration. The B •x-office will be opened on Monday, Dec. 19, when places may be secured for Miss Bateman's engagement a fortnight in advance. ROYAL ST. JAMES'S THEATRE. Manager, Mr. Benjamin Webster. EMINENT TALENT AND COMEDY DRAMA. Last Two Nights of the present Management. THIS EVENING, THE BARONET ABROXD AND TfIE RUSTIC PRIMA LONNA, by Lennox Horne: Mr. Frank Matthe s and Miss Constance Roden. After which, at a quarter to Eight, a new Comedy, entitled A LESSON IN LOVE Mr. and Mrs. Char.es Mathews, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Matthews. To conclude with Mr. Maddlson Morton's New Comedy Farce of WOOD..OOK'S LITTLE GAME. Mr. Charles Mathews, Mrs. Frank Matthews. On Saturday, Dec. 24, Benefit of Mr. Benjamin Webster. ROYAL STRAND THEATRE. Sole Lessee and Manageress, Mrs. Swanborough. THIS EVENING, at 7, WILFUL WARD. Messrs Turner and Belford ; Miss Palmer. After which, at 8, MIL KY WHITE. Messrs. Craven, Stoyle, James ; Miss Ada Swanbor ,ugh. To conclude with MAZEPPA. Messrs. Thorne and Fen ton ; Mesdames Raynham, Simpson, and Johnstone. COALS. —The LILLESHAL G COMPANY'S COALS. Direct from their own Collieries. Marquis'. 255. per ton. I Double.. 21s. per ton. Top 24.. Deep 22s. „ W ell screened and delivered within five miles of their De pots, Westbourne Park-road, W., and 17, South Wharf, Paddington, W., and Maiden-lane, N. Best Coke lss. per chaldron. Terms cash. JOHN SCO TT, Sole Lgent. FIE LATEST EDITION of " THE SUN" snp lied, as soon as published every Evening by pf - ALEI.4.NDEE (late BROOKS), Newspaper Agent, 24, Old Cavendish- tre et, Oxford-street. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tit s DAY.—Morning, 9h. 3m.—Afternoon, Oh. 40m. To-ttounow.-Morning, 10h. 12m.—Afternoon, 10h. 43m. 40/.„" 4*-Tiint LONDON, FRIDAY, DEC. 23, 1864. Mr. SEWARDS reply to Lord WHARNCLIFFE is certainly a characteristic one, and exposes to view some of the most objectionable features of the American manners. At the same time the whole weight of the blame does not rest with them on the other side of the Atlantic. It is certain that if our Government had adopted a different tone from the commencement of the war, such extreme imperti nence would not have been exhibited by the Ames ricans. It is very significant that no remarks of this kind are ever offered to the French, let them say or do what they will, and the inference to be drawn therefrom is very plain to all who will see of hear for themselves without the intervention of interested parties. It is an irritating reflection to dwell upon, that those who arrogate the right of representing the country should fail so com petely in their attempts to do so. If any doubts or hesitation on the subject of our Minister's capacity for holding American insolence in check have remained in the minds of impartial observers, this letter of Mr. SEwAnt's will mest probably settle them at once end for ever. Surely it affords confirmation strong as proofs of holy writ respecting the matter. From beginning to end it ie a tissue of absurdities, and exhibits an utter absenc e of statesmanlike qualities ; but above, beyond, and beside s all else, appears the animus against England. This is the informinr , principle, motive spirit, and t h e the ruling ive power of ail his thoughts, and hence it is the text of his epistle. Whether or not Lord IN UATtNeLIFFE' s proposal was a wi!ie or political one is not the Ticatinn to discuss and indeed it is a pity to take that view of the Euhket up, bscattsa argument presents a safer discussion of an affair. This cane rests on higher ground; and ehou!d be viewed in a national light, more than under an individual aspect. M r SLWARD'S letter is not of sufficient importance to provoke a war or to necessitate an explanation ; yet because it is not there is no necessity 'why its publication should be allowed to receive a jcdgment by default, or by tacit consent be suffered to drop into silence. Had he contented himself with refaaieg the rtqueat in decided terms, as he had a right to do, there wc,ald have been no need of a fuss or confusion about it; but when he goes out of his way to insult and abuse the British people in teto, and to state direct and unquestion• able falsehoods, - to make out his case, it is surely time to direct attention to the inconsistency and unworthiness of his conduct, and to utter a protest against it. Under cover of a particular case, and ' not a general question, Mr SEWARD avails himself of his opportunity in what may be called a des. tardly fashion. It is really difficult to determine which is the most conspicuous feature in his address —whether his impertinence or his falsity. Perhaps the latter should be first considered, not only on moral grounds,but to note the effrontery with which some persons make black white to suit their purpose. Who would have believed that a man in so respon sible a position would have given utterance to such expressions as the following passage contains:— " Nor will any portion of the American people be disposed to regard the sum thus ostentatiously offered as an equivalent for the devastation and dissolution which a civil war, promoted by British subjects, has spread throughout the States, which before were eminently prosperous and happy." It certainly was not generally known before Mr SEWARD so kirrdly gave us the information that this country was the cause of the deplorable cala mity of the civil war which rages with such vio lence and fury. Besides, how can Mr SEWARD dare to make such assertions in face of the repeated attempts of the Federals to cajole our subjects, and by false pretences to entrap them over to America to engage in a war. It is really going too far for even Yankee assurance, and no doubt he will find he has overreached himself by this clever and comprehensive epistle. When we call to witness the warning of the father of his country against the worst public danger, "sectional faction and foreign intrigue," it naturally occurs to the mind that, as regards the latter named peril, we are now suffering from it. Our subjects are taken from us, our sailors are entrapped into foreign service, and arms and ammunition are constantly being supplied for the maintenance of a war in which we have no interest except in so far as we pray for its termi nation, in the cause of humanity. A more disgrace. ful epistle could not have emanated from an official personage than this letter of Mr. SEWARD'S, and as a communication from so important a personage it means either too much or too little. If he really believes and honestly affirms in the name of his Government, one half of which he has said, in the name of public honour and private honesty the Government at Washington cannot remain on terms with Great Britain. It is not paying a very high compliment to their own management of affairs in relation to public affairs, if they have not been able to impress their allies with more respect for their dignity and a due regard for their wishes. The fact is, that the Federals are becoming so arro gant and monopolising that they are almost beyond endurance. The strong influence that has prevailed in our Cabinet has caused Earl RUSSELL to forego the pursuance of the only means which would have kept them in due limits, and in his zeal to propitiate the irritation of America, he has forgotten his duty to the English. He has been warned over and over again of the great mistake that he was making by the tame and mean-spirited policy, but to no avail. Those who run may read now, how complete has been his failure, if he wished to be on good and genial terms with the Government at Washington. The tone of this letter is portentous; it means more than it says, more than it dares to say. Rave and rant as they will, the Americans really dread a war with England just now, but still the deep rancour, the deadly spite that flows in an under current through this epistle is quite apparent, and impos sible to be overlooked. The real secret of all this Federal rancour is contained in the fact that they are too sharp not to notice the sentiment of the English nation, and to see that the sympathies of the people go with their adversaries. Setting aside the rights of the case, and all that series of vexed questions which such a complicated discussion gives rise to, the English people can see for themselves that on one side of the belligerents there has been exhibited a spirit of courage and a constancy that would do honour to any cause, while on the other there has been seen hardly anything but arrogance and bluster. A total dis regard for the rules of civilised nations has marked the course of the war on the part of the Federals, and now they seem wishing to try their skill in the matter of peaceful breggadocia. It is melancholy to behold such an exhibition of undisguised heat and hastiness on the part of Mr SEWARD. It lowers him in the opinion of ail sensible and discerning persons. It would seem as if this epistle was meant as a corollary to Mr WEBB'S effusion. The Ameri cans are perhaps running a race and striving for a prize as complete letter writers, and certainly they are putting forth great exertions and energy in the cause. One thing beyond all others is to be learnt from this communication of Mr SEWARD'S, and that is our Foreign-office is greatly to blame for having suffered things to go to such a length that any one in his position should presume to pen each an epistle, and to offer either openly or covertly such an insult to a country which is supposed to be on terms of amity with his Go vernment. Such extravagant conduct will not answer its own unworthy ends in the long run, and in the meantime it calls down the contempt of all who are competent to judge of the matter. There is often said to be a sort of epidemic in crimes, and magistrates and podcemen are always prepared, when a crime of peculiar or exceptional character has attracted much attention, to have a good many imitators of the principal culprit to deal with. Sametimes poisoning comes into fashion, as at the time of PALMER, of Rugeley ; sometimes open murder, as in the case of Rusll, at Norwich ; or, again, suicides of various kinds come into passing favour. It is difficult for minds ordinarily well balanced to comprehend or realise the morbid crav ing after excitement which leads to putting oneself out of the world for the sake of being talked about, when the hero or heroine will not have the pleasure of bearing the remarks that will be passed upon the grand catastrophe, and the attraction which induces a man or woman to commit some particular crime because another has just been hung or transported for it, is even more extraordi nary. Still such is undoubtedly the case, and psychologists may find some explanation of it in the strange depths of human nature ; but how are we to account for the remarkable coincidence which so often brirgs accident into close proximity. It has often been noticed that one catastrophe is speedily followed by others; yet it might naturally he supposed that each disaster would occasion in creased care, and therefore icseen the probability of another. Jost now we have an epidemic amon g the railways, as unfortunately we have very often had before, Two of the Accidents which in late yearn moat deeply impressed the metropolis from their immediate connection with its citizens, occur s the Eghsainueia-astri n g r m ed u w th ithin a few days of eac h o th er , an d no t many accident, o p f a n disasters, fnll y ntar tstartled beginning the of railway p asse world with lagers. But the impression, though vivid at the moment, soon passes away, unless with those who have themselves suffered, or seen rela tives suffer; it is as though it had never been ; and ughappiiy, not only the travallgre I , ut the railway, officials of various degrees go on their ordinary way, as if such things es railway accidents were never heard of. This carelessness or indifference is more extraordinary, as although the victims to th• shock are of course the principal sufferers, the rail way companies are very great pecuniary losers. In the accident, which happened yesterday at Slough, there was happily no loss of life, but there was very great destruction of the company's property. The catastrophe of the other day on the South Eastern, what with the damage to rolling stock and other property, was estimated to involve an expense of £3,000 or £4,000, independently of the heavy compensation to the sufferers. Yet the principal authorities appear unable to secure a due amount of common sense and common citation on the curt of their subJrdinates. A child ten years old would know there was danger in sending a train along a blocked up line. Yet here we have an accident which narrowly escaped being of the most frightful nature, caused by deliberately send• ing the Bristol parcels train on to the lines where the goods train was previously shunted. By a most fortunate escape the drivers and stokers of the two trains received no injury, but had either train had any passengers the result of the collision would have bee❑ appalling. The parcels train itselt had two carriages nearly smashed and the break van completely crushed in, while the stationary goods train was pretty well demolished. The engine of the parcels train was completely disabled, the works at the side being swept away by the violence with which it had dragged against the goods train. It was not an ordinary collision, but occasioned partially by the confusion arising from the employ ment of a double gauge. The negligence which produced the disaster was the closing of the points, which drove the broad gauge train exactly in the track of the narrow gauge. No doubt the company will institute a searching inquiry into the cause, although in this case, happily, the assistance of public justice is not invoked; but it is really time that a better system was introduced into our rail way traffic. So vast is its importance, and so im mense the numbers who daily trust their health and life to its charge, that it is really an imperative necessity that the companies should act up to their public and sceial responsibilities. The employment of a better class of men, more liberal wages, and shorter hours of labour, would greatly reduce the risks of the passengers. The fares are quite high enough to provide for proper attendance, which should be regarded as much a matter of necessity as the rails upon the road. The ordinary risks of rail way locomotion must be chanced by the passengers; but if wilful carelessness and stupid ignorance are to come in, the result will be neither satisfactory to the companies nor to the public. No great variety can be expected in the autumnal speeches of Parliamentary members to their con stituents, and although the recess is now so far advanced that the thoughts of both orators and audience turn rather to the ensuing session than to the past, there is little to be slid in the way of politics beyond the old stereotyped phrases. Demark, America, the Lancashire distress, the prospects of Reform appear in due rotation in every harangue, leaving neither side much the wiser for their discussion. The addresses of the members for Reading, the other evening, were no exception to the rule, though Mr SHAW LEFEVRE certainly introduced some novel views es to the transatlantic question. He considers Mr LINCOLN to be " honest, straightforward, and courageous," and entitled to an honourable place in history. He thinks, how ever, that the sympathies of this country should be rather Northern than Southern, and that the Americans may feel justly incensed at our desiring the break up of the Union. Such a feeling, he says, is but natural. What, for instance, should we have thought if Franca in 1857 had rejoiced over the probable dissolution of our Indian Empire ? Mr LEFEVRE might rather say what would France have thought if, in 1848, we had refused to recog nise her new form of Government. So long as the States were unanimous in maintaining the Union there was no wish in England to see its disruption, but we hold that Republicans in name should be Republicans in practice, and that one part of a republic has no right to coerce the other. As for Denmark, Mr LEFEVRE applauds the wisdom of our Government for not going to war with Germany for " a few parishes of Schleswig." Would be ap prove of war on behalf of a few parishes.of Canada, we wonder ? Probably not, for our modern poli ticians are more remarkable for discretion than for valour. Sir J. GOLDSMID very truly observed in his speech, that Lord PALMERSTON would not grant reform unless compelled, but said he for his part would be ready to support it. A good deal is left in the hands of our Parliamentary Representa tives nowadays, and we should like to see them show a little more sense of national hononr and public spirit. Punch's Almanack for 1865. Tennisl's illustrations of the Signs of the Z3diac —some of them wonderfully tunny—are our chief consolation this year for the absence, for the first time, of John Leech, of dear, delightful, gratet ully remembered John Leech, from among the illustra tors of Punch's Almanack. Tenniel—always Lulu vellously good in his drawing, even when his pencil runs into its must grotesque txtravagances—seems to us, here and there, in this Aimaneck for 1865—at his very best. The seasonable scenes intermediately placed between the successive pairs ot the Signe ot the Z .disc are very often droller than the Signs of the Liaise theniseives. A Royal Acsdemician—who else than J. A. Millais, ? that indefatigable book and magazine em bellisher condescends for once to contribute a whimsical woodcut to Punch's Almanack. This sketch represents the artist's own children indulg ing in a preposterous practical joke, played off by rhea, in Papa's Studio, upon his unfortunate "Lay Figure!'' A couple of knickerbockered boys (merry young rascals!) " laying into" the poor wooden lady, with the mahl stick, while the sumo number co! pretty little girl-sisters are remonstrating with the young pickers from behind the easle. One or two of Charles lizene's - comic cuts are really comic, as, for example, the second of the two in reference to Bantingism. U. Du Maurier, in the number of his pictorial oontribulions to the Almanack, is very remarkable. More than that we can hardly say. Altogether, Punch's Almanack for 1865 presents it purchasers with abundance of fun and frolic, both literary and pictorial, in return for their annual outlay of a threepenny bit. ACCIDENT TO Two SOLDIERS FROM FALLING INTO THE TRENCHES ♦T CHATHAM.—At a late hour on Wednesday evening a serious accident occurred to Corporal liodgcs and Private Bow, belonging to the 20th Regiment, from falling into the trenches surrounding Fort Pitt, Chaihain. The two men had been sent to the hospital on duty, when t—ey appear to have mistaken their way, and had walked into the trench, near the back of the lunatic hospital, which is left entirely unprotected. When found Bow was discovered to have sustained a serious fracture of hie left leg besides other injuries, while those of Corporal Hodges were of a trifling character. It is earnestly hoped that the authorities will adopt the necessary precaution to prevent a recurrence of these accidente. HORSE FOR THE POOR.—Ic the last sitting of the Paris Society for the Protection of Animals the vice president, Dr Bletin, announced that he had just proposed to the Government that the sale of horse-flesh as an article of food should bo permitted in the French capital. The subject, he said, had been submitted to the Council of State fur decision, but in the meantime the Sisters of St. Vincent de Paul, Rue du Faucounier, distribute every Saturday to the poor one or two horses, in addition to the beef contri buted by the Bureau de Bientaisanc,,4 Tao applicants for that meat are so numerous, the hon. gentleman stated, that all cat to eeltiEd4 , :'..--Ciaiign4nti'_s aesiongor. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. [REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.] ITALY. TURIN, DEC. 23. The King has issued a decree ordering, as a mea sure of public utility, the occupation of the con. vents, seminaries, and other establishments, neces sary for the service of the State. SPAIN. MADRID, DEC. 22 (EVENING). The Queen's Speech at the opening of the Cortes to-day contained the following paragraph :—" I am bound to state to you that the genera! condition of the Monarchy, considered in all its extent, is not very satisfactory ; and to remedy this I shalt lay betore you a brit of great importance." The Epoca considers this paragraph to refer in dubitably to San Domingo. The same journal believes that a loan is indis• pensable and urgent. MADRID, Dec. 22. The Cortes were opened to-day, The Queen's speech states that the relations of Spain with foreign Powers remain satisfactory, except with Peru, " the Government of which State will finally be con vinced that justice is OD our side." Her Majesty then expresses a hope that a perfect understanding will be arrived at, without any stain upon the national honour. The Queen proceeds to state that the official cony. munication of the Archduke Maximilian's accession to the Mexican throne is the commencement of a new era in the political relations between Spain and Mexico, hitherto unfortunately interrupted. "The South American Republics will see that the sym. pathy of Spain has no admixture of ambitious projects." The Queen continues—" The Italian question is still pending, and the revolutionary movement which has been going on in that country has given rise to fresh diplomatic combinations. As soon as affairs are finally settled my Government will take this question into consideration in the manner dic tated by prudence, without, however, failing in the respect and filial love which Spain, as a Catholic nation, professes for the common Father of the Faithful.° The speech, in conclusion, announces the intro duction of bills relative to financial questions and modifications in the present legislation affecting Credit societies. A bill oa the press law, in bar.. many with the Constitution, will also be brought forward. No allusion is made to Santo D3mingo. The reactionist and moderate journals attack the Government on account of the nomination of Mar. filial Concha as President of the Senate. FRANCE. PARIS, DEC. 23. M. Drouyn de Lbuys has aderessed a letter to the Mayor of Sunderland, in which he says : " The Emperor's Government is p. rticularly sensible of the cordial reception given in oc , ,ober last by the authorities and population of Sunder. Land to the commander and crew of the DAnae. Such manifestations cannot but strengthen the bonds of friendship which so happily unite France and England, and contribute to the development of friendly relations." BOURSE, Dec. 22.—The market continues inania mate. Threes, for the Account, are unvaried at 651. 20c. Mobilier shows a sight decline, being now at 925 f. Little doing in R Aliway Shares. The market closed as fol;ows Italian Loan 65 35 Do. end month 65 45 Ditto Threes — New Mexican 50 50 Ituseiati austrian Spanivh Threeri., — tioexie Debt Deferred Cash. Account. 843 75 .. 850 993 75 .. 935 -- 878 75 .. 881 2:5 585 .. 553 75 515 492 50 .. 493 75 315 315 435 .. 435 -- 505 505 370 370 435 435 190 .. 190 THE CAPE I MAIL. 41 per Cents. 93 80 00. end 3 per Cents Do. end mouth 65 30 Credit Mobilier 932 150 Do. end month 931 25 Bank Shares 3550 Credit koncier 1200 [Oman .. lid EL Orleans Northern Lyons and neditorranean, Southern Western Eastern Sardinian Austrian Lorr bard North of Spain Saragossa Ditto to Barcelona PLYMOUTH, DEC. 23. The Union Company's steame; Saxon arrived here this morning. Her dates are—Tahie Bay, Nov. 20 ; St. Helena, 28th ; Ascension, Deo. 2 ; and Madeira, 16th. She brings the mails, 70 passeDgers, and a full general cargo. Her mails have been larded and forwarded by to day's mail train. Governor Wodehouse had decided his arbitration vir. tually in favour cf all the Free State c l a i ms. Thi s h a d occasioned great excitement, The disputed lands are very valuable, being almirably adaptedboth for agricultural and pastcral purposes, and had been held by the Basutos for many years. Portions of the lands were under cultivation by them, but on the Governor's dicision being known, the Free State authorities issued an order to the Basutos to clear out within one month, atd summoned the whole of the burghers to eject them, sh)uld force be necesoary. Moshesh had sent a civil reply to the Governor's award, merely saying that he would cal/ a meeting et his coun cillors and lay the documents before them; but the Go• vernor's message was treated contemptuously, and very disrespectful opinions of both the Free State and the British Government were freely expressed by the Basutos, who were greatly irritated, and war between Moshesh and the Free State was considered imminent. It was hoped that nothing in the recent negotiations might involve Cape Colony in the quarrel. The other native tribes on the frontier remained quiet. Trade had improved during the month. Arrivals in Fable B Y had bee n numerous , an business was consequ e ntly brisk. Money continued abundant, and the harvest is expected to reach a fair average. Marcus, a convict, had been sentenced to a further term of imprisonment for 9 years for forging promissory notes to the amount of £ll,OOO. Armstrong, a clerk in the Post-office, had been sentenced to 6 ye ars' imprisonment for embezzling stamps to the value of £l,BOO. The railways are being pushed on with great vigour. The iron ship Pera, from Liverpool, for Bombay, had been wrecked off Madagascar, but no lives were lost. The copper miLing in Maryland was proceeding very auccessfully. New fields of copped had been discovered. The Orontes arrived out on the 6th—the Athena on the Bth—the Rosslyn Castle and Mary, with the 10th Regiment on board, on the 11th. St. James's Theatre. A new comedy was last night produced at this theatre, and with the most lively success. It is in three acts, and is entitled " A Lesson of Love," and has been adapted from a Parisian piece lately produced at the Gymnase, entitled "Nos Alliea." The main spring of the action is the contest carried on by a splendid widow and a very gay, clever fellow, for the hand of a young lady. The widow takes under her protection a gallant officer, just returned from India, who is anxious to marry, but does not know how to make love ; and the widow undertakes not only to plot against a rival, but to give him a lesson in love herself. The Indian officer can storm batteries, but cannot make love to a woman ; and, indeed, so far from progressing in love to the young heiress, he grows deeply in love with the widow, and the only time that he can express himself pas sionately is in her presence, The buwour of the comedy rests with the continual efforts of the widow and the rival to outplot each other, but it would be tedious to repeat their devices. Suffice it to say, the gallant captain marries the widow, and the gay young rival !willies the beautiful young heiress. Mrs Charles Mathews plays the witty widow with charming intermingling of passion and womanly cleverness. Mr Charles Mathews played the gentlemanly, light-hearted rival, who has fallen in love for the twenty. fourth time, with a gaiety and humour that is certainly inimitable. Mr Robinson enacted the Indian captain in e gentlemanly manner; and Miss Wentworth, as the heiress was lady-like and pleasing. The comedy will be played of Saturday for Mr Wester a benefit, and next week, when Xise Haber! will take posgetaion of the theatre. Journalism in Australia. A very cleverly conducted sixpenny weekly newspaper has recently made its first appearance at our antipodes. It is called magnificently in one word, but that one word an almost sexquipedaliin one—" The Australasian," It is a paper of gigantic dimensions. It is crammed full of information. I• is admirably well arranged—thoroughly readable —often very exhilaratingly vivacious. Among other things it contains within it, as the filet of its literary criticisms, the most searching and comprehensive review we have anywhere met with upon Mr. ifinting's world.famous pamphlet, and in like manner, of coarse, upon the whole ingenious system now known " the wide world o'er" as the system of Bantingism. As affording our Australasian con temporary an opportunity o giving his compatriots here in England about the best possibLe taste of his quAlity that could very well bt , selected from the fist number published on the first d,y of last October, we transter to our columns the preliminary leading article 01 The Australasian, in which article the editor of the Australasian thus introduces himself aad his journal to public consideration : A journal now-a-days proposing to add itself to the existing crowd of Victorian newspapers is in much the same position as the latest new-corner at a ball. If he can slip into the throng and mix in she press unobserved he will find himself serenely installed as a freeman of the room, and can look round with the composure of a first arrival ; if not, he must be content to be considerably stared at, and be elaborately on his good behaviour. Atter advertising our arrival so long, we can hardly hope to escape the stare, and must perforce make our propitiatory bow. Just so in the days of Elizabeth and Shakspere, when people if they thought much read little, and a fresh book was a month's wonder, each new-born babe of print was ushered into the world with an address to " the courteous reader," soliciting his good graces and deprecating his censure, We like the fashion, stiff as it may seem, and think an Australian `public fully as worthy to be saluted as " courteous readers," and considerably more likely to deserve the term than our ancestors in the ruffs, doublets, and trunk-hose. The world, whatever some crusty folks may say, has been growing better every year, and the newspapers improving with it. If the journalist in this goodly race has largely aided to help society on its way, society in its turn has much more largely helped the journalist. In nothing has the marked advance in English life during the last twenty years been more decided than in the character of the news paper press. A writer in the year 1864 pro-supposes in his readers a degree of intelligence and knowledge which would have been anomalous in the days of the Reform Bill, and the fact of their possessing in fact this higher grade keeps him, on his part, from sinking below the high level of the popular standard. In the days when Whig and Tory formed the two opposite camps in which the active thought of the nation was limited to serve, the serious discussion of the great social and political questions was reserved to the quarterly leaders of opinion; the monthlies, at most, touched here and there upon some salient topic of the hour, while the columns of the dailies, from the Thunderer downwards, were mainly filled with rabid personal onslaughts, in which the combatants contended in the language and with the rancour of Fusbos and Bombastes. We have changed all this, and 'hank Heaven for the change. The present metropolitan journals of the plebeian class are purer if not cleverer, than were those of the middle and many of the higher grades a quarter of a century ago. The column of the numberless daily organs habitually contain speciali ties of the great quarterlies, The coarse abuse and violent suggestions which once fatally evinced the degraded tastes of the populace, and the bitter class hostility of the poor to the rich, have almost entirely passed away. Though neither wise nor interesting, the writing contained in such periodicals as the Family Herald and London Journal is harmless as arrowroot. The fibs of the writers are at least of the very whitest of white lies. The numberles Jennies, Julies, and Merles who are con stantly proposing, through their ever-open columns, to correspond with some nice young man with a view to matri mony, probably exist only in the imagination of the editor, nor is it likely that the niece of an earl with £3,000 a year cannot pick up a parti in May Fair, but must apply for him to the Penny dhoreditch Examiner; but these absurdi ties are at any rate better than the old advices to the people to spend their shillings in pikes and daggers against the police, and assurances that Robespierre was the true regene ' rator of mankind. The respectable working man of to-day, who reads Macaulay and listens at a sixpenny concert to Mozart, is not disposed, like his father, to believe that every gentleman is of necessity a tyrant, and every lady of quality no better than sue should be. The same change is equally evident in the tone of newspaper controversies everywhere. Messrs Potts, of the Eatanswill Gazette, and Stark, of the -Independent, were true pictures of existing realities at the time when Dickens launched into lite the immortal "Pickwick"—they would now bo the grossest caricatures. The general improvement has not been confined to the mother country, Resident, as fully three-fourths of at least the Victorians have been, within the last 10 years, in the island kingdoms, the colonists may, upon the whole, congratulate themselves that, if the press here and there partially falls short of the standard at home, it is at any rate many hundred degrees above the American. We have very few Australian imitations of Mr Jefferson Brick. We are, in our worst cases, free from anything approaching to the unlimited shamelessness of James Gordon Bennett. If our scanty numbers and inferior field preclude among us the acclimatisation of a Times," the New York private stabber" is equally a stranger. If some unlucky writer, between dyspepsia and mosquitoes, loses his temper now and then, and speaks of public men and things more sharply than good taste and good feeling warrant, at least there is no system of elaborate defamation of private life; there is no exclusive purchase of " an atrocious act of dishonesty come mitted by the Speaker when four years old, now communi cated at greas expense by his nurse." In the provincial journals, considering the isolated character of the up-coun try settlements, the tendency of all monotony to exacere bate the temper, and the necessary restriction of their con ductors, many of them highly educated gentlemen, to a dead level of details, it is remarkable to find so general an ab sence of bitterness, and a prevalence of opinions generally sensible and soreetim:s statesmanlike. And in truth, when the journalist by profession, if worthy of that profession, looks to the end and working of his enterprise, he finds in the reflection of its action upon society enough to console him for many personal annoyances. It is not the most exhilarating of all things to work perpetually in the shade, and, his own individuality buried in the anonymous, see his best-meditated articles consigned day by day to inevitable oblivion. But if the medium perishes, the effect remains. A bad press is a national curse, but a good one a mighty blessing. Though a single organ of opinion may not do much, the collective action of the majority, especially in a country like ours, is, after sufficient time, all but irresistible • Even when each differs from each most widely, the very contrariety is of use, by ventilating a question. The discussion, open to all, keep society horn stagnating, as the winds no the sea, and widen many a mind, by showing its possessor that what he took for gospel truth is not so certain after all. It is one great advantage of our own rather special and peculiar path that, without eschewing the great questions of the day, we shall be enabled by the pause be tween each successive issue to discuss them with somewhat more of calmness and elaborateness than habitually tails to the lot of a dahy organ, however able and high-principled. We shall steadily bear in mind, both for ourselves and readers, humanum est errare. It is only half-educated men who are omniscient, and have no doubts, and for such there will be no place among our writers. We shall put down candidly and distinctly what we conscientiously believe true, but be by no means either angry or surprised if our cotem poraries. in print or out of it, think otherwise. The quali ties that combine to make a successful journal are many, but good feeling and singleness of purpose, at least as much as talent and perseverance, are effectual allies, and if they do not command success, may justify the hope to deserve it. , City Municipal Elections, At some of the wardmote meetings which were held on Wednesday, a poll was demanded on behalf of certain of the candidates. In each case the polling took place yesterday, and the following is the result : ALDGATE.—Alderman Lusk declared the number of ♦otes : Messrs H. A. Isaacs, 147—R. B. Whiteside, 147 J. C. Davis, 140—B. Burnel.!, 107—W. H. Teulon, 105— H. C. Busknall, 99—E. D. Rogers, 98; J. Turnley, 97 J. Hudson, 80. Tho first eight were elected. BREAD-STREET.—The result WAS made known by Alder man W. Lawrence: Messrs Hawtrey, 62—Ridley, 62 Cole, 62--Maynard, 60—M'Cutchen, 57—M'George, 57 Maughan, 55—Pill, 40—Smith, 19. The first eight were elected. BRlDGE.—Aldorman Abbiss stated the result of the poll : Messrs Arnold, 59—Hartland, 56—R. Taylor, 55—C. Whetham, 55—J. Blake, 52—Johnson, 47—R. P. Taylor, 46—Gover, 44—Cluncher, 19—May, 19. Of the above Mr It. P. Taylor And Mr Gover were the new candidates—and Mr May, an old representative of the ward, and Mr Cluncher were unsuccessful. CllEAF—Alderman Allen announced the numbers— Messrs John Bennett, 126—W. Tegg, 118—S. Gibbins, 118—J. Stewart, 116—J. Orridge, 114—J. Thorp, 111— Morey, 1' 6—J. Bontom, 85 —Wright, 67—Wilson, 44. The first eight were the successful candidates, Mr Tegg being appointed the deputy. CRIPPLEGATE WlTuour —The past members were Messrs Read, King, Cuthbert, Pickering, Morisse, Smith, Nind, and Gower, the two new canditatea being Messrs Turner and Harvey. The following was the result of the poll, the first eight being elected :—Messrs Gower, 241 Pickering, 233—Cuthbert, 213—Smith, 212--Nind, 209-- urner, 204—Read, 183—King, 167—Morisse, 146. TOWER—rho announcement was made by Alderman T. Q. Finny—Messrs J. Young, 128—J, Malcolm, 121— H. death, 119—J. S. Banning, 115—T. B. Humphreys, 109— J. Northway. 116—E. Smith. 87—C. Heginb,,tham, 8.5 B. Corcoran, 83—J. Forster, 60—H. Aste, 42. Tiao first eight were declared to 111 M been duly elected, BANK OF FRANCE. PARIS, December 22. The following is the return of the Bank of France for the week, together with the corresponding figures of the previous account : Dec. 22. Dec. 15. DR. f. c. f c. Capital of the Bank 182,500,000 182,500,000 Profits in eddy ion toCapital (Art. 8 law June 9 1857) 6,912,460 91 6,893,0,9 36 Reserve in the Bank and its branches Reserve in landed property 4,000,000 4,000,003 Notes in circulation 721,487,475 739,383,125 Bank notes to order and re- ceipt. payable at sight 5,774,783 36 5,432,012 87 Treasury ac cur. credit0r103,359,256 06 93,04,132 63 Current accounts—Paris 136,089,007 48 140,571 991 44 Do. branch-banks 20,104 508 20,698,5 1 Dividends pay.ble Disciunts and sundry interests 21,660,290 29 21,023,595 87 Re-diseoun;.43 of the last six mouths 2,588,735 17 2,583,735 17 Sundries 1,237,994,109 61 1,250,055,304 22 CR. Cash in hand and branch- banks 364,008,378 83 351,562,024 15 Commercial bills ovrrdue 708,763 66 558,808 39 Commercial bills discouLted not yet due 274,518,191 83 301,207,229 87 Do. branch-banks 287,085,185 285,314,504 Advances on deposits of bullion Do. branch• banks 4,869,184 4,9J0,210 Advances on French public securities Do. branch-banks 7,595,550 7,9t8,050 Advances on ra.9way shares and - debentures .. 26,543,800 26,620,900 Do. branch-banks.... 16,787,150 17,u72,450 Advances on Credit Fon- cier Bonds 548,500 513,300 Do.branch-banks.... 414,750 339.650 Advances to the Stato (Conven. June 10, 1857) 60,000,000 60,000,000 Govt. Stock Reserve 12,989,750 14 12,980,750 14 Do. disposable Rentes immobilisees (Law June 9, 1857) 100,000,000 100,000,000 Hotel and furniture of the Bank Landed property, brandies Expenses of management 2,849,239 24 2,488,973 49 Sundries .. 6,083,115 83 5,250,6 )3 12 1,237,984,1 M 61 1,250,055,304 22 Certified, the Senator-Governor of the Bang of France. (Signed) ROULAND. Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, the Field Marshal C ;mmanding-in&Cnief, with his Royal Highnes3 Prince Arthur and Major Eiphin stone, and a numerous staff of officers, comprising Gen. Sir J. Y. Scarlett, Adjutant General ; Gen. Sir G. Pollock, G.C.B. and K S.T. ; Gen. Sir J. Bur goyne, G.C.8., Inspector-Gen. of Fortifications ; Lieut.-Gen. Sir H. Jones, G.C.8., Governor of the Royal Staff College, Sandhurst; Major-Gen. Ham ilton, Vice-President; Major-Gen. Sir F. Abbott, and Lieut.-Col. wyn, of the Council of Military Education, arrived at Woolwich at half part 10 o'clock yesterday morning, to conduct the Christmas examination of the gentlemen cadets at the Royal Military Academy, and award commissions and prizes in accordance with the recommendation of the council of which his Royal Highness is presi chnt. Immediately on arriving at the Academy, Prince Arthur with Major Rphinstone vilited the drawing and class rooms, for the purpose of inspect ing the drawings and scientific sketches executed by the cadets during the past half-year, Tne whole of the cadets, by desire of the Duke of Cambridge, were assembled in the dining hall, when his Royal Highness, in a private manner, addressed them at some !tngth in earnest and impressive terms relative to irregularities which had taken place during the past half-year. H, assured the cadets that whilst he was anXious to promote their comfort and best interests, he would take care to maintain that strict discipline without which the army could not txist, and which nhoula especially be cherished by those who would here after be called upon to comm And men in her Mw. jesty's service. His Royal Highness then conducted a viva Voce examination of one of the classes in Gorman, and subsequently proceeded to the Common, where aeveral batterico of n.y.e,A,tilLery. nese assembled, which were inspected by the Duke and stuff, and Prince Arthur, who was attired in a tartan dress, end rode his favourite Shetland pony. After in specting the troops, his Royal Highness and stuff returned to the Academy on the lawn fronting which the whole of the gentlemen cadets had as sembled in review order, the band of the Royal Artillery being present. After inspection by his Royal Highness and staff, the several classes of cadets went through a complete series of manual, platoon, and bettalion exelciaes, under the direc tion of Senor Cadets Nicholson, Washington, and Curling. The cadets then marched to the school of arms attached to . the spacious gymnasium of the institu tion, where arrangemente had been made for dis tribating prizes for exemplary conduct and profi. ciency in study daring the past half-year, Major- General Hamilton, Vice-President of the Council of Military Education, read a report from the council to the effect that 41 gentlemen cadets of the first and second divisions of the first class had been found qualified to receive commissions, and of these it was recomm-2nded that 14 be ap pointed to the Royal Engineers, and the remainder to the Royal Artillery. The examiners had re ported favourably as to the state of the junior classes, with some exceptions, which chitfly re lated to the languages. Colonel Yorke, RE., then read a report from Major-Gen. Saudham. comman dant of the Academy, as to the efficiency of the cadets, and the zeal and attention of their icstruc tors. The number of marks gained by each of the cudots in the several brunches of study was then read over, and the successful candidates for com missions were called to the front, whe❑ the Duke or Cambridge distributed the following prizee : Mr Curling, for exemplary conduct, a regulation sword. Mr W. Nicholson, for exemplary conduct, the Fetlock gold medal; for first artillery, a double telescope ; for first topography, an aneroid baro meter; for chemistry, a microscope; and for first fortifications, books. Mr Brown, fur second aril. leey, an aneroid barometer; and for geology, a mi croscope. Mr Ltndoc, for second tortifieetions, a prismatic compass. Mr Berestord, for second topo graphy, a pocket sextant. Mr Pultord, for natural philosophy and practical mechanics, a microscope. Mr Walker, for first French and second German, valuable books. Mr Moore for second French, Mr Arnott for first German, and Mr Jacob for Hindus tani, valuable books. Mr Purcell, for first mathe• matics, a case of mathematical instruments. Mr C. Watson, for second mathematics, third fortifies times and practical geometry, pocket compasses and sextant. Prizes were also awarded to Mr Freeth for landscape drawing ; Mr Jekyll for Practical geometry ; and Mr Leech for landscape drawing. His Royal Highness then proceeded to address the cadets. He reminded them that the two corps of Royal Engineers and Royal Artillery, in which they would shortly receive commissions, were emi nently scientific, and they would do well to re member that on leaving those walls it was essentially necessary to continue their education, and endeavour to keep pace with this scientific age by acquiring not only a theoretical but a practical knowledge of those extraordinary inventions and improvements which are constantly taking place. 'He was happy to find that during the past halt-year so much ad vancement had been made by the several classes, and that such a favourable report had been presented by the lieutenant-gevernor. He need scarcely re mind them that something more than knowledge of their profession was required from officers in her Nlajeety'si service. It was necessary that they should be of high character, cultivating a high tone of feeling. and a high standard of truth. He hoped the advice he had given them on several occasions would not be lost upon them, and that they would endeavour in after life to emulate the conduct of those gallant officers who had rendered the service of the Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers dis tinguished. the Duke and his siqff subsequently Witnessed a series at gy rntu exercises by the cadets, aro, sftrr vimi.ing the riding tstAblishment RYA other departments, returned to London at Voree o'clock amidst a Royal salute from tho Greet:obill battery, iuenr. Cr' - " - _ tional'-'76*Ev- HER MAJESTY. OSBORNE, Dec. 22. The Queen and Princess Hetents waltd and drove yesterday afternoon. Princess Louise, Prince Leopold, and Princess Beatrice also went out in the grounds. The Prince and Princess of WaleA. SANDitINGHAM Dec• 22 Their 8,,,yal 1-I , ghnesses the PTiict;:ni, Princess 01 Wales appear to be greatly enjoying their stay nt their Norfolk seat, and, with the infant Prince Albert Victor, ate in ex cellent health. Tne anniversary of the death of the Prince Consort was observed at Sandringham as at Windsor, their royal high" nesses spending Wednesday and Thursday in strict retire- tin Friday their royal highnesses were out with the West Norfolk at Snettishaw. The prince and party were out shooting on the Frankfort part of the estate on Saturday, and, although the snow fel l heavily all day, the sport was excellent. On Sunday the prince and princess, attended by the Me!' chioness of Carmarthen, Liuut-General Knollys, Captain. Grey, Mr Fisher, and Mr Holzaa Inn, attended Sandriag" ham Chtu ch. The sermon was preached by the Rev. C. Tarver, chaplain to his royal highness. A private meet of the West /NI urtelk foxhounds took Plec ill at Sandringham on Tuesday, and was attended by the Prince of Wales and a select field of the leading supporters of th is popular hunt. It was a matter of regret to all, and to none more than his royal highness, that though the Wolfertoal Brick Kiln, Jocelyn, and ocher woods were drawn, no inn could be obtained, and the prince met with his first blank this season. His royal highness is particularly desiroue that foxes should be preserved on his estate. On Wednesday the Prince of Wales, attended by Capt. Grey, drove to Marhaw, on a visit to the esteemed maste r of the West Norfolk Hunt, Mr H. Villebeis, who had ill' vited a number of the leading inhabitants of the neighbour hood to meet his royal highness for a day's shooting in the excellent covers of Nub' ough Contract. The prince re.' mained the guest of Mr Villobois at Marham House, and was to be joined to-day by the Princess of Wales, the visit terminating to-morrow. Their royal highnesses will spend Christmas at Sand ringham, and it is understood that the poorer classes on the royal estate will De enabled to enjoy their Christmas' day in a thoroughly English style, through the prince'l liberality. The Duchess of Norfolk arrived at Arundel Castle' Sussex, on Wednesday, from Paris. The young Duke of Norfolk is making a tour in France. The Marquis of Conyugham left town yesterday to pass the Christmas with Lord and Lady Churchill at Wynchwood Park, Oxon, after which the noble marquis goes to his seat in Ireland. The Earl of Derby, by accounts received in town yesterday, is regaining strength after his recent severe ill" sm. The Earl and Countess of Warwick will shortly ►eave their reaidenee at the Stable-yard, St. James's, for the Isle of Wight. The Earl of Eldon will leave Hatfield Hough . Herta, to-day, for his seat in Dorsetshire, The Earl of Coventry hes returned to Thomas.° Hotel, Berkeley-equare. Viscount and Vibcounteas Palmerston are cuter' taining a select party at Broadlands, Hants. Lord Lyons is expected to arrive in England on Sunday or Monday next, from America. His lordship had arranged to leave New York by the next Cunard steamer for Liverpool. Lord and Lady Eustace Cecil, Lord Stanley, M.P.' the Earl of Eldon, and Mr Seymour Fitzgerald, M.P., a r e amongst the visitors to th e M at q u i s an d Marchioness C' Salisbury, at Hatfield House, Herts. The Earl and Countess De Grey have left &udlel Royal, Yorkshire tor Nocton Park, their seat in Lincoln' shire. The marriage, announced some months back in our columns, of the Earl of Coventry and Lady Blench° Craven, daughter of the Earl and Countess Craven, will be solemnised towards the close of the ensuing month. The ceremony is to take place in town. ROYAL ACADEMY OF MUSIC.—The competiti o n for the King's S3holarships took place at the insti tution on Monday, the 19th inst., and for that of the Wes t " morland Scholarship and Potter Exhibition on Wednesday Th.fnllnmingrtrotessors composed the board of examiners :—For the King's Scholarships—Messrs Charles Lucas (chairman), W. Dorrell, H, C. Lunn, M. Saintoh , • and Signor Guglielmo, For the Westmorland ScholarshiP and Potter Exhibition—Messrs Charles Lucas (cuairmay)f W. Dorrell, Cusins, F. ft. vox, and Signor Schira. TOO candidates elected were :—For the King's Scholarshipa --- Miss Margaret Watts and Mr Francis Ralph; for the Westmorland Scholarship--Miss A. Smyth; and for the Potter Exhibition—Miss A. Kinkel. The following Dan' didates were highly commended :—For the King's Scholar. ships—Misses Ida Henry, M. Buels, M. Bauermeister, C. E. Kingdon, F. M. Kingdon, and Messrs. W. A. S. don, and G. A. Davis; for the Westmorland ScholarshiP —Miss E. Pitt and Miss Kellner; and for the Pot ter Exhibition—. Miss E. Pitt and Miss J. Williams. The Shipping and Mercantile Gazette of yeste ll day says:—" Our readers hive not forgotten the circumstantial contradiction given by some of our Liverpool contemporaries to the statement which appeared in these columns respecting the departure of the steamer Sea Sing trom London to sail under the Confederate flag. The 5. 35 King, on entering the Confederate service, became th e Shenandoah, and we are enabled to report something mo re respecting her movements. The Shenandoah appears have employed her time to soma p ur p ose . Ad v i ces re ceived this day trom Bahia report the arrival there of a Dan ish vessel with the crews of no less than five Federal vessel s ' all of which had been captured and destroyed by the Shenandoah, under the command of Captain Ward The names of these vessels are the Elena, of Maine--tbe E. Godfrey, of Boston—the Kate Prince, the Chart er Oak, and the Susan. 'We take it that this report est a ' blishes the tact that the Sea King is not on y a Conteder sto cruiser, but that she is likely to rival, if not surpass, the Alabama in harassing the commerce of the Norther° States. LIFE-BOAT SERVICES. FILEY, NEAR YOR I ‘ , DEC. 21.—At four o'clock tnis morning (repor t° Mr R. White) four el'the fishing cobles of this place sve n " , out. At seven a.m. it came on a strong gale from the E.S.E,, with a heavy surf, and as there was great clang °r of the cobles reaching the shore safely, the Holion boat, belonging to the National Institution, was at on e launched, and accompanied the cobles until they all g: e safely to the shore. On such oc cas i ons th e p resen ce of t— liteboat gives the fishermen fresh courage, and they a f; corciingly work their craft with renew e d e n e r g y. Thus lifeboat often contributes, as in this instance, to the sa/i n ! of the lives of a large number o f p ersons . as we ll as the preservation of property of a consid e rable am o unt to til et3- poor men. The cost of the lifeboat was given to the inl i l ; tote by the ex-Lard Mayor of York (M r H o lt on ) a nd N Hollon. DESTITUTION IN THE METROPOLIS,—Daring tb : last few days, since the cold has set in With e lle , intense severity, the various refuges for supplying P r r e °l 4 l o sions and lodgings to the destitute have been crowded' house in Playhouse-yard, which was opened on &t urd :, last, has been visited by several hundreds—men, w °l- 1, 13 t and children—there being separate rooms for the ma" ea the Asylum, Providence-row, there h a v e b een 600 aPP"i e j cations of a night, a large number of whi c h were coraP e ' to be refused. It has been the same with the new ra 68 .1 9 0 Newport-market, and the premises in Field-lane hal' - in been besieged nightly by crowds of poor. These- are t o addition to the receptacles attached to the workhous ea t II carious pariahce, whe re , u n d er th e l a t e. Act of Fax . li° 3 3e 03 6 the police are required to take a ll th e c a su a l poor t rn ,, t a with on their usual beats, which will make the d esti amount to some thousands. DEATH IN THE PULPIT.—A sad sense of neresr; ment has been induced in Pembrokeshire, In C°131 ,. 0 . quence of the death, under sudden and indeed ve r y rior a markable circumstances, of the Rev. Hugh Hugh"' 4d a generally known as Tegai. The reverend divine bu' s o f very eminent position among the dissenting min iBtar a od Wales, and he was not more distinguished for his pio .l simplicity of life than for the nervous power and °lt ' l o u t e li ed. with which his pulpit discourses were commonly 'eldo6o; On the Sunday he preacned a discourse having sigl'lso 90 reference to the uncertainty of life, for which be 'c ll i „ les ed Lis test the remaika.ble declaration of Scripture , '"r aitl i v g ate the dead that die in the Lord." He woo OP re' tile passage, and applying it with fervour and. Pa vver : n Pre' he was observed suddenly to stagger and fall.. 3 : 110 i , l e an sent rushed around him and raised him 13,p, w bell ; bo ovie found that he had been seized wilhpaialysis, of vc l t o f a time previously he had had an attack, rilthoufg h ao Po character sufficiently severe to comp.el to mr. cease from his pastoral and pulpit labours. e sr l . o pc o ried to his residence in a state of stupor, a nd nev but pia afterwards. Every at t en t i on was paid to him and on malady was beyond the reach of human skill tha t .a m irera Friday it became known among his rn"ny he had breathed his last during Liverpool Mercury. His Too. a • A CONTRIBUTION TO FRENCH a seep° purchased a __ cho w of curious manuscript has just been ent, hand book shop at Lyons and placed anaarocia733the ; ttiat city. The volume, written ep o P f the province 01 rho amount of the receipts and expenses for three year° '4' to l Lyonnais and of the city of Lyons the previous with the ilieMY of that part of end of the 16th century, with nthuemceoruouutard;tails corpec THE SVN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 23, 1864: